A new front in the conflict with parliament.. organizations and journalists confront a law related t

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[size=52]A new front in the conflict with parliament.. organizations and journalists confront a law related to information[/size]

[size=45]A group of NGOs and journalists have launched a broad campaign to amend the Access to Information Bill, which is expected to be voted on by the House of Representatives soon.[/size]
[size=45]Activists believe that the law in its current form represents a serious setback to freedom of the press and citizens’ right to access information, stressing that it contradicts international standards that guarantee freedom of expression and transparency.[/size]
[size=45]The campaign called for the necessity of making fundamental amendments to the provisions of the law to ensure the provision of information in a fair and just manner, in a way that enhances the role of the media in oversight and accountability.[/size]
[size=45]“This is a campaign launched by a group of local and international organizations in protest against the insistence of the House of Representatives to pass the Right to Information Bill, which includes dangerous articles that could undermine democracy and the right of citizens, the press, and organizations to expose corruption,” said Wissam Jaafar, head of Tawasul.[/size]
[size=45]He added, “The current draft law withholds a large group of information under the pretext that they are exceptions related to state security and economic security, including all government contracts and meeting minutes. Therefore, it will be impossible to access this information if the law is passed, in addition to the fact that the law grants discretionary powers to every director general to classify any document as confidential without any standards.”[/size]
[size=45]Iraqi parliament member Hadi Al-Salami said, “The law has been read for the first time, and we are waiting for comments from citizens, unions, and the press to be included in the law.”[/size]
[size=45]He added, "We suggested that there be transparency and clarity, and that citizens have the right to obtain information on various issues such as the budget and contracting contracts, except for personal and security matters."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Salami confirms that “the law will be passed during the current session.”[/size]
[size=45]For his part, legal expert Habib Al-Quraishi warns that “the current law on obtaining information in Iraq reflects, according to his vision, ‘preventing information’ rather than facilitating it.”[/size]
[size=45]He added, “This law allows the publication of simple information such as ‘TikTok recipes’ while imposing strict restrictions on military and personal information.”[/size]
[size=45]He explained that “journalists may face imprisonment if they publish information they obtained from sources within ministries. He stressed that the current formulations of the laws may lead to a deterioration in Iraq’s ranking in international human rights indicators.”[/size]
[size=45]In addition, member of the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee, Nisan Al-Zayer, said in a televised interview that “the recent amendments to the Freedom of Demonstration Law, the new version of the law, have improved some aspects,” adding that “the amended version has eliminated the need to obtain prior permission to demonstrate, and the law now focuses only on the freedom of demonstration, with the removal of the freedom of expression clause.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Zayer confirmed that “spontaneous gatherings and sit-ins were dealt with under the new law, which she described as “gentle,” noting that “spontaneous gatherings do not require prior notice,” and promised that the law may impose penalties on security forces if they suppress demonstrators.[/size]
[size=45]In this context, journalist Muntadhar Nasser says, “The picture is not rosy, and the laws on freedom of expression and demonstration that were put in place before 2011 had dangerous implications.”[/size]
[size=45]He added, “There is a negative overall view of demonstrations and protests. He saw that the law creates contradictions, as it allows demonstrations at any time, while at the same time giving officials the power to reject demonstrations.”[/size]
[size=45]Nasser criticized the “Access to Information Law,” noting that “officials can classify books and documents as secret,” and stated that parliamentary culture had prevented discussion of this law during a workshop it organized.[/size]
[size=45]Several organizations have issued an open letter calling on members of the Iraqi parliament to review the draft “Right to Information” law, which was read for the second time on August 3, 2024, after rapid discussions in the Culture, Tourism, Antiquities and Media Committee. Local and international NGOs and human rights organizations express their concerns about the current draft, which, if passed, could restrict freedom of access to information, in contravention of the Iraqi constitution and international standards.[/size]
[size=45]The letter highlights areas of concern, such as provisions that broadly exclude many types of information from the right to access, such as information of a commercial or governmental nature, without clear justification. It also criticizes the broad powers given to officials to classify information as secret without specific criteria, which may foster a climate of corruption and reduce transparency.[/size]
[size=45]The organizations called for a review of the draft law and the organization of broad consultations that include all stakeholders, including civil society and the media, to ensure that the law is consistent with the constitution and Iraq’s international obligations.[/size]
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